Communications

This is a request under the Freedom of Information Act. I hereby request the following records:

-- A list/database of all official gifts given by the members of the Executive Branch to foreign dignitaries or other foreign individuals since Jan. 1, 2015.

This record is maintained by the Protocol Gift Unit and should include the giver's name, date, purpose, price of gift, and/or any other information that is included in the database.

I ask that all fees be waived for this request as I am a journalist employed by the Lowell Sun and I intend to use the requested records to publish articles in the public interest and not for any commercial purposes.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 20 business days, as the statute requires.

I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Aug. 2, 2016. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed. You had assigned it reference number #F-2016-09508.

Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.

This is in reference to your email dated September 14, 2016 regarding your FOIA request number F-2016-09508 submitted on August 2, 2016. We checked the electronic case notes. Your request has been assigned to the appropriate compliance research branch for action. Currently we are determining if we have sufficient information to process your search and ensure we are able to protect personally identifiable information. A timeframe cannot be provided until the assigned team has had an opportunity to fully review the request. After the review, an estimated completion date will be able to be determined and provided to you.

If you have further concerns or any questions regarding any FOIA-related matter, please contact the FOIA Requester Service Center (FRSC) at (202) 261-8484, or fax us at (202) 261-8579 or send an e-mail to foiastatus@state.gov<mailto:foiastatus@state.gov>.

I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Aug. 2, 2016. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed. You had assigned it reference number #F-2016-09508.

Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.

I have contacted the Case Analyst and requested a new estimated completion date and status update for your case. The Analyst will contact the bureaus doing the searches and the individuals reviewing the material. This will take some time because each case is different. The search and review time varies. The time depends on the complexity of information requested and the time to review the material.

I hope this information is helpful. If you have further concerns or have any questions regarding any FOIA-related matter, please contact the FOIA Requester Service Center (FRSC) at (202) 261-8484, or fax us at (202) 261-8579 or send an e-mail to foiastatus@state.gov<mailto:foiastatus@state.gov>Regards,

This is in reference to your October 19, 2016 email, regarding case number - F-2016-09508. The Department's electronic case notes indicate the case is still openEach case is different and the processing time depends on the complexity of information requested, the location of the information, and the time it takes to review the records.

The estimated completion date (ECD) for this case is: October 2017.

ECDs are subject to change and are "strictly" estimates and not intended to be used as "actual" dates of completion, due to various extenuating factors, which are beyond the control of the Branch, which may or may not include coordination with other Agencies during the process (referrals, concurrences, etc.). Interim release dates are provided, as applicable.

I hope this information is helpful. If you have further concerns or any questions regarding any FOIA-related matter, please contact the FOIA Requester Service Center (FRSC) at (202) 261-8484, or fax us at (202) 261-8579 or send an e-mail to foiastatus@state.gov.